Cops: Man points weapon at crowd outside Crozer emergency room

UPLAND -- Police from across the area responded to Crozer-Chester Medical Center Thursday night after a man pointed a gun at a crowd gathered outside of the emergency room, officials said.

The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Nikkeem T. Black of Chester, allegedly had a loaded .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun in his waistband when he was taken into custody.

According to police, a young boy was struck by a car and taken to the hospital's emergency room Thursday night. Authorities said the boy did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

A short time later, at 8:45 p.m., Upland police were dispatched to the emergency room for a report of a man with a gun. A description of the suspect was provided to police.

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Upland police Lt. Nelson Ocasio, the first officer on the scene, saw a large unruly crowd gathered in front of the emergency room entrance outside of the hospital, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Hospital security officers Tomica Wells and Nadine Wright were attempting to control the crowd.

Ocasio walked behind his patrol car, spotted the man matching the suspect's description and walked toward the crowd. Several bystanders saw the officer and pointed out the suspect, saying he had a weapon, the affidavit states.

Ocasio pointed his duty weapon at the suspect as Upland Officer Sean Dougherty took him to the ground, according to the affidavit. The suspect, later identified as Black, was ordered to put his hands above his head, and he complied.

Dougherty removed a gun from Black's waistband. As the officers attempted to place him into custody, several people in the crowd began to interfere by grabbing the officers. Backup was requested as Ocasio attempted to push the crowd back and Dougherty handcuffed Black.

The crowd continued to surround the officers as police from Chester, Chester Township, Trainer, Marcus Hook, Lower Chichester, Brookhaven, Parkside, Upper Chichester and Delaware County detectives arrived to assist. The crowd was dispersed and those involved in the incident were removed from the property.

One of the security guards gave police a statement about the incident. She said it began with four women who picked a fight with another woman outside of the emergency room.

When the guard asked the four women to leave, one of them took a swing at the other woman and a fight ensued. One of the women involved in the fight fell to the ground. As security officer attempted to help her back up, Black shouted, "Get your (expletive) hands off of her or I will shoot y'all (expletive)," the affidavit states.

That is when the security officer saw the gun and called for help.

The security guard also demonstrated for police how Black allegedly pulled the gun from his waistband and pointed the gun at the crowd, the affidavit states.

The weapon taken out of Black's waistband was disengaged as if ready to be fired, and had a live round inside the chamber, the court document states.

Black, of the 300 block of West 21st Street, was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Dawn Vann on multiple charges of simple and aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and released on $75,000 unsecured bail.